Finding the Third Proportional to 83.25 and 86.50

Step by Step Solution

1. Step 1: Write the proportion equation
   83.25 : 86.50 = 86.50 : x
2. Step 2: Convert to fraction form
   83.25/86.50 = 86.50/x
3. Step 3: Cross multiply
   83.25x = 86.50 × 86.50
4. Step 4: Simplify right side
   83.25x = 7,482.25
5. Step 5: Solve for x
   x = 7,482.25/83.25
6. Step 6: Final answer
   x = 89.88